Francesco Cavalli

Francesco Cavalli (February 14, 1602 – January 14, 1676) was an Italian composer. His real name was Pietro Francesco Caletti-Bruni, but he is better known by that of Cavalli, the name of his patron, a Venetian nobleman. Cavalli was born at Crema, Lombardy. He became a singer at St Mark's in Venice in 1616, second organist in 1639, first organist in 1665, and in 1668 maestro di cappella. He is, however, chiefly remembered for his operas. He began to write for the stage in 1639 (Le nozze di Teti e di Peleo)